AUSTIN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM COMING TO MUELLER

The Austin Children’s Museum, which is currently located downtown on Colorado Street, is moving to Mueller Austin. The non-profit is breaking ground in the Mueller Town Center and the $20 million, 40,000 square-foot project is expected to be complete late 2013. It will be located on Simond Avenue across from the Mueller Lake Park and next to the future home of the Austin Playhouse.

Last month they unveiled the design of the new and improved museum. The much more futuristic-designed museum will be a LEED certified building design and will include an outdoor space that is sure to be a hit with the kids. There will be surface parking as well as a future parking garage in the town center, both that guests can use free of charge.

The current museum caters to children up to age 6, however, the new location will include science, technology, math, art and engineering activities and exhibits for children through age 11. There will be brand new exhibits including a water room with suspended rivers, jets and a wall of hand dryers, a 2-story climbing structure visible from Airport Blvd., a kitchen gallery with farmers market and fitness space, a walk-through kaleidoscope, pigs for seating outside the museum and food service, to boot. There are also plans to have more staff on hand to lead projects.

The Austin Children’s Museum will be an anchor to the highly-anticipated Mueller Town Center. The hope is that the foot-traffic brought in by the Museum and Playhouse will help to support smaller, local businesses considering opening up shop in Mueller Austin.